Stayin' Alive: Cubs Erupt Early, Hold Off Brewers to Force NLDS Game 4

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CHICAGO, Ill. — With their season hanging by a thread, the Chicago Cubs found the urgency that had eluded them in Milwaukee. Powered by a historic leadoff home run and a clutch hit from their young center fielder, the Cubs roared to a four-run first inning and then leaned on a gutty bullpen performance to narrowly defeat the rival Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

The win at a raucous Wrigley Field cuts the Brewers’ series lead to 2-1, forcing a pivotal Game 4 on Thursday night at the Friendly Confines.

“This is the energy we needed,” manager Craig Counsell said after the tense victory. “We were down to our last strikeout, and the guys responded with a lightning-fast start. We had to scratch and claw for every out after that, but we’ll take it. We’re still breathing.”

The First-Inning Fury

The game’s opening frame was a chaotic microcosm of the entire rivalry: strange, intense, and high-scoring.

The Brewers drew first blood following a controversial non-call on a one-out pop-up that allowed the bases to load. Christian Yelich eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to give Milwaukee a quick 1-0 lead, momentarily silencing the anxious crowd.

But the Cubs immediately answered with a stunning display of power and two-out clutch hitting against Brewers starter Quinn Priester.

Michael Busch Makes History: First baseman Michael Busch stepped into the box and launched a $3 - 2$ fastball deep into the right-center field basket for a solo home run. It was Busch’s third homer of the series and, remarkably, his second leadoff home run of the NLDS, making him the first player in Major League Baseball history to accomplish the feat in a single postseason series. The blast instantly tied the game and re-ignited the ballpark.
PCA Delivers: The Cubs quickly loaded the bases on a Nico Hoerner single, a Kyle Tucker walk, and an Ian Happ walk. With two outs, 22-year-old center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong stepped up and sliced a sharp single to right field, scoring both Hoerner and Tucker to give the Cubs a crucial $3 - 1$ lead.
The Wild Pitch: The fourth and final run of the inning scored immediately after, as a wild pitch from reliever Nick Mears allowed Ian Happ to trot home, capping the four-run outburst. Priester was chased after recording just two outs, having thrown 39 pitches.

Taillon and the Bullpen Hold the Line

The biggest question coming into the elimination game was pitching, as the Cubs had already used both of their left-handed starters in Games 1 and 2. They turned to veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon, who had been the team’s “stopper” throughout the second half of the season.

Taillon delivered exactly what the Cubs needed, grinding through four gritty innings. He scattered five hits but limited the damage, repeatedly escaping jams. Most crucially, he got a fielder’s choice out at home plate in the fourth inning to prevent a run and keep the lead intact.

The rest of the game belonged to Craig Counsell’s bullpen, which navigated five tension-filled innings.

Drew Pomeranz (1-0) earned the win with a flawless 5th inning.
The Brewers chipped away, as Jake Bauers hit a solo home run off Andrew Kittredge in the $7^{th}$ to trim the lead to $4 - 3$ .
The high-leverage moment came in the $8^{th}$ inning. After the Brewers put runners on second and third, closer Brad Keller was summoned from the pen. Keller, who recorded the save in the NL Wild Card Series clincher, issued an intentional walk to load the bases before facing the dangerous Bauers again. On a full count, Keller delivered a sweeping curveball, getting Bauers to swing and miss for the strikeout that ended the threat and sent Wrigley Field into a frenzy.

Keller then retired the side in order in the $9^{th}$ to record his second save of the 2025 postseason.

Looking Ahead to Game 4

The victory snapped the Cubs’ eight-year streak of scoring three runs or fewer in playoff games and proved that their offense could deliver the decisive punch. However, the offense was silent after the first inning, leaving the bullpen to protect a one-run lead for eight innings.

The Cubs must now turn their attention to Game 4 on Thursday, facing a familiar challenge: the Brewers are still one win away from moving on to the NL Championship Series. With a Game 5 scheduled for Saturday in Milwaukee, the Cubs have clawed their way back, but the margin for error remains razor-thin.

The starting pitcher for the Cubs in Game 4 has not been officially announced, but expect Counsell to get creative, likely leaning on a combination of Hayden Wesneski and a carousel of high-leverage relievers. Regardless of who takes the mound, the message is clear: the North Siders have found their pulse, and they plan to make this series a fight until the very end.